Electric-spark-gap apparatus.



J. M. ROBERTS.

ELECTRIC SPARK GAP APPARATUS.

1,188.324. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4. 19M. PatentedJ une 20 2' SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. M. ROBERTS.

ELECTRIC SPARK GAP APPARATUS:

APPLICATIQN FILED N0v.'4, 1914.

1,188,3%-. Patented June 20,1916.

2' SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Jacob M. FZO bd/YSB W JACOB M. ROBERTS, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINliA..

anaemic-summon? APPARATUS.

Application filed-November 4, 1914. Serial No. 870L239.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB M. ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Spark-Ga'p Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to spark gap apparatus for transmitting electric waves in wireless telegraphy and telephony.

The object of the invention is to provide a sending device using an electric spark gap whereby a flow of air is mingled with the spark to produce a cooling eifect thereupon and preventing variations of the intensity of the signals sent out and thereby eliminating the over heating effect of the spark gap. I

Further objects and advantages will be more fully-described herein and specifically pointed out in the annexed claims recourse being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which Figure 1 is a front view of the complete apparatus. Fig. 2 is an end view and a cross section direction of the line 1-2 in'Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of the air blast chamber showing a single orifice therethrough. Fig. 4 is a side view of the chamber showing a series of holes through the same.' Fig. 5 is an edge view of the blast chamber or-boX. Fig. 6 is a front view of one of the plates or disks forming a part of the blast chamber.

and shows a removable perforated disk or center therein. Fig. 7 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 8 is a part side elevation and section of one of the spark gap terminals or points and its support. Fig. 9 is an end view of one of the spark gap points or terminals'showing multiple channels through I the same. Fig. 10 is an end view of one of the terminals showing a slngle channel therethroughi Fig. 11 shows a multiple arrangement of the blast chambers whenplaced in series with each other. Fig. 12 is an end view of the same partly in section showing adjusting means for the chambers. Fig. 13 isa sectional view of a modlfied form of spark point, and Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary portion in section, of one of the spark points showing the action of the air blast and spark.

In the drawings like reference numerals Specification of Letters Patent.

through the base board in the Patented June 20, 1916."

indicate similar parts in all the several views.

. 1 is the base board or support for the hereinafter described devices and is provided with legs or standards Q'so that the base may be elevated forming a space beneath the same.

3, 4 and 5 are supports or blocks which act also as insulators for the hereinafter named metal devices.

6, 6 are grooved plates mounted upon the I blocks 3 and 5 and are connected by the rods 7.to the terminals or binding post nuts 8, the rods 7 passing th ough the blocks and ofiset portion 11 so that the operating rod 12 may be out of the way of the hereinafter described piping. 'The rods are threaded and pass through the ends of the muflier casing to the outside thereof, and are pro vided with thumb nuts 13 for convenience in operating the .plates 9. By either turning the rods l2 inward or outward the plates may be moved so as. to adjust the hereinafter described spark points and when they are at the proper distance apart, the rods are locked by means of the jam nuts 1-1.

15 is a muflier casing or inclosure for the described mechanism and is composed of some suitable insulating material and adapt ed for reducing the noise of the spark and for protecti'on against heat and sparks for such use I employ an asbestos lining 16. The mufiler casing is provided with a glass door 16, Fig. 2, so that the' internal mechanism may be reached and observed.

17 isa'n air outlet or monitor on top of the casing 15-and is provided with outlet holes or orifices 18 for the escape of heated air which may be drawn out by a suitable exhaust fan. Thedome or monitor may be extended to any height that may be desired.

18 are holes in the top "of .the casing 15 to allow heated air within the same to.be expelled through the dome 17.

19,are metal blocks secured to the dovetailed plates 9 and may be square in cross ting a flow or movement of air as it will.

of suitable non-conducting substance and act the portion 21 of the spark points 22. The spark points or gap terminals, are provided with a single. perforation 23, for a flow of air to mingle with the spark, or a series of perforations or orifices, which will be described hereafter.

24 is an annulus or ring, and said annulus, taken with the circular plates or disks 25, form an air blast chamber or box, said disks being secured to the annulus by the screws 26.

27 is an air inlet pipe and 28 an air outlet pipe, the latter being smaller than the inlet, permits of a pressure being maintained within the chamber but'still permitnot escape as rapidly as it enters. In addition to the outlet 28, the blast chamber is provided with a single aperture or blast outlet' 29, in Figs. 3 and 12, or a series of the same arranged in concentric rows, as at 30 in Figs. 4 and 6. Instead of perforating the disks, as in Fig. 4, I arrange a center 31 provided with a flange 32, and in this manner I may renew the center, if required, by placing a suitable wrench in the holes 33, Fig. 6, and unscrewing the center from the disks. The blast chamber may be extended to any length, as shown by the dotted lines 34, Fig. 5. 1

I may place a number of air chambers in series with their renewable spark points 34*,

Fig. 13, opposite to each other, as shown in Fig. 11 and which will now be described.

Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, 35 are blocks as supports for the chambers 25. The blocks are slidably mounted upon the rod 36 and held thereon at any distance apart, by the set screws 37. Air is supplied to the blast chambers through the channel- 37 which is connected to a suitable blast device by means of the flexible rubber tubes 38. Upon the edge ofthe blast chamber is placed a scale 39 as a guide for adjusting the distance between the spark points and it is numbered from its center to both ends. 40 is a deflecting disk mounted upon the spark points 22 by means of the screw thread 41 and is for the purpose of allowing the air blast to be deflected from the b125 1; chamber.

disks 25, thereby causing air currents around the spark gap. The combined spark points and air jets 22 are provided with either a single longitudinal channel 23, Fig. 10, or a series of orifices 42, as shown in Fig. 9.

Referring 'to Fig. 14, 43 represents a discharge of electric sparks from an opposite point and directed into the countersunk or bevel portion 44, of the spark point, where they meet the air discharging from the opposite direction through the passages 23 and consequently blown with and into the sparks. In this manner the spark is rendered steady and cool and the air blast messes suitable valves in the pipes 46 for controlling the'air supply to the spark points. 50 is a cylinder adapted to be'filled with some moisture absorbing substance for drying the air before it reaches the spark gap points, and 51 is a pipe leading to a suitable air supply. In ordinary spark gaps where a fan or blower is used it is disadvantageous, as it makes the spark waver and be blown, to a certainextent, out of its course. In my device I supply a flow under a certain pressure thereby cooling the disks 25 of the air chamber, the points 22 and the spark itself, besides driving out heated air surrounding the spark gap and keeping the spark at a minimum working temperature.

With my invention, 1 can produce and maintain a better all around spark than is possible with other spark gaps. A rotary gap must be stopped before making adjustments, but in my apparatus, adjustments may be made without stopping any part of the device.

My invention displaces some of the parts necessaryin the operation of other spark gaps 'now in use besides giving a steady spark and a perfect cooling effect thereby causing high radiation.

1. A device of the class described comprising sparking points having openings therein, means for causing air to flow outward through said openings, a chamber between said sparking points having openings through the opposite Walls thereof, and

means for causing air under pressure to pass therethrough.

2. A device of the class described comprising air pressure means, adjustable spark and air discharging points, and a means between said points having air pressure regulating means, said air pressure means being operatively connected with said points and said means therebetween.

3. A. device of the class described comprising air jet spark points, an adjustable under pressure and 'means for regulating said pressure. a

5. A device of the class described comprising air pressure. means, combined unidirectional air means therebetween.

6. A device of the class described com-- prising adjustable combined air blasts and electric spark terminals or points, a' chamber between said points having apertured walls,

means for maintaining air under pressuretherein and for forcing it through said-aper- Oopiea of this patent may be obtained for tures,

and electric spark dis-' and a scale on said chamber adapted to be a guide for adjusting the distance between said points. a

7. A device of the class described comprising air blasts points', deflecting disks or shields thereon, an apertured chamber at'the of the air discharges, means for forcing air under pressure through said apertures, and drying means for the air.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed. my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' I JACOB M. ROBERTS. Witnesses:

WALTER B. Borrow,

J. T. PHELPS.

Washington, D. G. I

and spark discharging meeting point five cents each, bfaddressing the Commissioner of Batents, 

